No primary for at-large seats: 6 candidates file to be Lexington’s next vice mayor
For the first time in at least 20 years, the race that will determine Lexington’s next vice mayor will not have a spring primary.
That’s because six individuals filed candidacy paperwork by the Friday deadline to run for three citywide, at-large seats on the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council. As such, all six will move on to November’s general election.
Records with the Fayette County clerk’s office show it has been at least two decades since fewer than seven candidates vied for the seat.
The top vote-getter in the nonpartisan at-large race in November becomes vice mayor, while the second- and third-place finishers become at-large council members and serve four-year terms. The vice mayor runs the day-to-day operations of the council.
In addition to at-large seats, 12 district seats on the council are also on ballot this year, along with a packed primary for mayor.
Who is running in the at-large Lexington city council race
In a surprise move, incumbent Chuck Ellinger II, a longtime council member, announced he was not seeking another term. He was elected to the at-large position in 2018 and reelected in 2022 after previously serving from 2003 to 2014.
That means the remaining two incumbents will face some familiar faces and first-time candidates.
Current Vice Mayor Dan Wu, who was the top vote-getter in the 2022 at-large race, has filed to run again. Wu, a former restaurant and small business owner, made history as the first Asian-American elected to the council of Kentucky’s second-largest city.
“In my three years on council, I have led on relieving millions in medical debt, fought to create more homes, supported our local nonprofit partners, paved the way for Lexington’s future growth and preservation, and advocated for the right of every Lexingtonian to belong here,” Wu said. “That work is far from over and I ask for the privilege to continue serving as Lexington’s Vice Mayor and keep doing the most good for the most people.”
Also running is incumbent James Brown.
A real estate agent, Brown announced in August he would seek reelection. He was first appointed to the District 1 seat in 2015, a position he held until 2022, when he made history as the first Black resident to win in the at-large, citywide race. Brown chairs the powerful budget, finance and economic development committee, which helps oversee the city’s budget and many of its economic development initiatives.
“I am running for re-election because Lexington deserves experienced, visionary leadership that can unite our community and get things done,” Brown said. “Our city is strong, resilient, and full of opportunity, and I am committed to building an even better Lexington for all residents.”
Many newcomer candidates have said making Lexington more affordable is key to their platforms.
That includes Herbert Lynn, a first-time candidate who says he is a Democratic Socialist and works as an HVAC dispatcher.
“Lexington is an amazing city, but for working people, life is less affordable than ever. Rent prices have skyrocketed; Home ownership is a pipe dream; Our bills are rising faster than our paychecks,” Lynn said in a December social media post. “The people of this city deserve better. I’m angry, and I know you are too. Our City Council needs more members representing the interests of working people.”
Also running is Stephanie Aschmann Spires, who served on the Fayette County Board of Education from 2017 to 2021. Spires is the executive director of KORE Academy, a neurodiverse school in Lexington.
Spires said she is running in part because too many young people can’t afford to live in Lexington.
“I want to ensure that Lexington grows with intention in a way that preserves our history and farmland but allows our neighbors to live affordably,” Spires said. “And as a mother, I want to make sure that our community is safe for our babies. This means not only fully funding public safety, but funding after school programming and prevention programs, detention alternatives, and youth employment programs.”
Chris Shafer, a city employee, has also filed for the at-large race.
“With a decade of experience in city government as a public service worker I have a deep understanding of how our city works and where we can improve,” Shafer said in a March 2025 Facebook post announcing his campaign. “I will use this experience to inform my decision-making and ensure that we are providing the best possible services to our residents.”
Tate Ohmer, a restoration contractor who focuses on preservation, said he opted to run because he is concerned about rising housing costs.
“The affordability crisis has hit the younger generation hard, and locally its largest manifestation is in housing costs,” Ohmer said. “I believe that this is a citywide issue, and needs be addressed creatively and diligently through modernizing our zoning and construction laws to allow for denser development that still protects community character and historic properties.”
According to Kentucky Registry of Election Finance records, Brown has the fundraising lead, having already raised $10,850. Shafer is the only other candidate to begin raising money for the race and has brought in $5,664.
